DFL state Rep. Rick Hansen opts against a Second District run

South St. Paul Rep. Rick Hansen, a Democrat, said Sunday evening that he would not run for the open Second Congressional District seat.

Minnesota’s Second Congressional District

At a DFL fundraiser for the district, Hansen said he was humbled by the outpouring of support offers had he opted to run since Republican U.S. Rep. John Kline announced his retirement this month. But, member of the “influence industry,” told him he could not run and win based on the issues about which he cares, like pollinators, clean water and invasive species, and care more about fundraising than his beliefs.

“Money is the pollution in the system of our democracy,” he said to applause.

Before he spoke at the Prior Lake fundraiser, the two Democrats who have been in the race for months — Angie Craig and Mary Lawrence — addressed the crowd. State Rep. Joe Atkins, DFL-Inver Grove Heights, is also considering making a bid for the seat.

After Kline said he would not run for re-election, a mass of potential candidates expressed interest. Slowly many of the would-be candidates declined to make bids.

See our updated list of candidates below: